AGE-RAGE Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Target

The advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are created by reactions involving a nonenzymatic glycation of lysine or arginine of proteins, and then additional glycoxidation due to oxidative stress occurs. They are part of the secondary stages of traumatic brain injury and the initiation and aggravation of several conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. The receptor for AGE, also known as the receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE), interacts with AGEs and produces intra- and interprotein cross-linkages that deactivate different enzymes and accelerate the course of illness. There is rising interest in targeting the AGE-RAGE pathway as a potential therapeutic intervention by developing AGE inhibitors, AGE-breaker compounds, RAGE antagonists, and exogenous sRAGE administration to treat AGE-related diseases, including diabetes mellitus and various neurodegenerative diseases. This implies that AGEs play a substantial part in the etiology of many diseases, and addressing the AGE-RAGE pathway might bring about new therapeutic options.